Bowling pin doll



May 27, 1969 BOWLING PIN DOLL Filed June 1, 1966 L. B. SPAHR 3,445,957

United States Patent 3,445,957 BOWLING PIN DOLL Louise Broadtman Spahr, 54 Howard St., Gretna, La. 70053 Filed June 1, 1966, Ser. No. 554,408 Int. Cl. A63h 3/50, 3/00, 3/36 US. Cl. 46-151 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a novel and improved doll construction and more particularly to a doll construction which can be inexpensively produced from basic available components yet is extremely esthetically pleasing and suitable for a large variety of differently appearing dolls.

Countless doll constructions are known most of which feature conventionally formed doll bodies which may be integral or made up of a plurality of components. Clothing for the dolls of known construction often comprises individual simulated garments or units which must be fastened or otherwise secured to the bodies by means which require some degree of manual dexterity.

An important object of this invention is to provide a doll which can be inexpensively formed yet is highly pleasing to the eye.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a doll in accordance with the preceding object which can be dressed with the use of a minimum of manual dexterity by small children.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a doll in accordance with the preceding objects which permits large variations in its appearance.

According to the present invention, a doll is formed having a centrally located upright support in the shape of a bowling pin with a head portion, a narrow neck portion and an enlarged body portion. An elastic foundation fits snugly over and conforms to the body portion. A costume is attached to the foundation whereby the costume can be removed from or positioned on the support along with the foundation in a single operation requiring little or no manual dexterity. Preferably, a pair of simulated arms are positioned on the bowling pin at or below the narrow neck portion. The arms are preferably formed of a sock which has been suitably treated to permit slipping of the heel portion of the sock over the head portion. The central support is preferably a bowling pin which is particularl adapted to allow sliding of the entire costume over the head for dressing and undressing the doll in a single operation.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description of the invention when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a doll constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a support element thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the arms thereof; and.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the central support and arms in assembled relationship.

Turning now to the drawings and with particular reference to FIG. 1 thereof, a doll is generally indicated at 10 comprising a centrally located upright support 11 and a dress costume 12. The centrally located upright support 11 is preferably a standard bowling pin and forms the body portion of the doll. The bowling pin shape is particularly desirable for usage since it is well proportioned for use as a doll body. Discarded bowling pins which have been dented or otherwise rendered unusable for bowling can be inexpensively obtained for use in the present invention.

The bowling pin body 11 comprises a head portion 13, a narrow neck portion 14, an enlarged body portion 15 with a flat base 16 designed to rest on the ground or other flat surface to support the doll in its upright position as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Mounted on the enlarged body portion 15 is an elastic foundation garment 17 preferably made of an elasticized textile. The foundation garment 17 is preferably an elasticized textile tube and can be knitted or stretch woven of conventional stretch materials known in the art. In some cases the knitting or weaving pattern can impart stretch properties to the garment 17. The foundation 17 snugly fits about the body portion having an upper neckline 18 adapted to hold it on the body portion and allow removal and replacement by merely sliding the foundation 17 upwardly over the head. The foundation 17 carries the costume 12 as will be later described.

The supports for the arms of the doll are preferably formed of a conventional sock such as 19 preferably made of a stretchable textile material as is known. The sock 19 is cut to form a hole 20 at the heel portion and a second hole 21 directly opposite the heel portion. The opened end of the sock is tied with a tie string 22 after filling of the sock with conventional stutfing materials such as shredded foam rubber, batting, felt, or other such materials. The arms are positioned on the bowling pin 11 by slipping them over the head onto the narrow neck portion 14 as best shown in FIG. 3 where arms 23 and 24 are formed by the sock 19.

The face of the doll can be formed by painting directly on the head portion of the bowling pin as indicated at 25 in FIG. 1. Alternatively, an elasticized cloth tubular member can be slipped over the head portion and suitably decorated to indicate a face. When a decorated tubular member is used to form the face, interchangeable faces can be provided for each doll. Thus, not only the dress of the doll can be changed, but the facial expressions and appearances can also be changed.

In the preferred embodiment, a hat 26 is positioned on the head as is Well known in the doll industry. In some cases, the hat may be omitted or any shape hat of known design may be employed.

The costume 12 of the preferred embodiment is made up of an outer dress 27 with a downwardly extending petticoat 28 having arm portions 29 and 30. The dress 27 is preferably a one-piece dress made of a cotton material and has an elasticized neck 31 adapted to stretch over the slightly enlarged head of the bowling pin. The dress may have the petticoat 28 sewn to it and extending therebelow as in the preferred embodiment by a line of sewing (not shown).

It is a key feature of this invention that the entire costume 12 is attached to the foundation 17. Buttons 33 are sewn on the dress as a decoration with the sewing stitches passing under the dress to the foundation 17 at the points indicated at 34 in FIG. 2 thus firmly attaching the dress to the foundation. Additional stitches may be sewn in the dress to attach it to the foundation 17 if desired at the rear and sides of the doll although this is not necessary. Since the costume 12 is attached to the foundation, it need not be additionally attached to the bowling pin support 11 simultaneously with the foundation 17 by merely stretching and removing the foundation or lacing it in the position shown in FIG. 2 as desired. The arms 19 can be removed with the costume 12 or can be left in position when the dress is removed. Thus, buttons, catches, clasps and other attachment means need not be opened and repositioned in order to dress or undress the doll as children often do in playing with a doll.

No hands are necessarily associated with the doll. If desired, the dress 27 can carry integral simulated hands 34 and 35 as shown, sewn to ends of the arm portions of the dress. In some cases, the hands 34 and 35 can be attached directly to the ends of the sock 19.

While a specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it should be understood that many variations thereof are possible. For example, the particular material of the costume 12 can be varied as known in the art to use plastics or any conventional textile materials. In some cases, buttons and clasps may be used if desired although this is unnecessary to dress and undress the doll. The particular costume shown is merely a preferred embodiment although a wide range of colors and styles can be employed for the costume of the doll. The costume can extend downwardly to or beyond base 16 to entirely cover the bowling pin 11. In some cases, the doll can be formed without arms although it is preferable to use arms of the type previously described. For example, the doll may be a simulated penguin with no arms used. Human characterizations can also be made without the use of arms. Arms can be formed by other means than the sock 19. In some cases the arms 23 and 24 are sewn to the costume 12 to facilitate removal along with the costume. In all cases, it is preferred to use the foundation 17 of a stretchable material on which is attached substantially all of the outer garments used to permit simple and rapid dressing of the doll and changing of costumes by repositioning a second foundation having a different costume attached to it over the support formed by the bowling pin like member such as 11.

In view of the modifications possible, this invention is to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A doll construction comprising a centrally located upright bowling pin-shaped support having a head portion, an enlarged body portion and a narrow neck portion intermediate said body and head portions,

an elastic foundation snugly fitted over and conforming to said body portion,

a costume attached to said foundation for movement 4 therewith so that said costume can be removed from or positioned on said support along with said foundation by utilizing stretching action of said foundation.

2. A doll construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support is a bowling pin and a pair of simulated arms are positioned on the narrow neck portion thereof said arms defining an aperture into which said narrow neck portion is placed.

3. A doll construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said costume comprises a dress sewn to said foundation.

4. A doll construction in accordance with claim 3 wherein said arms are formed by an elongated tubular member lying in a substantially horizontal position said elongated tubular member defining ends and having a vertically extending passageway intermediate said ends for positioning about said neck portion.

5. A doll construction in accordance with claim 4 wherein a simulated face is painted on said head portion.

6. A doll construction in accordance with claim 5 wherein said dress is attached to said foundation by stitching acting to secure said dress to said foundation and additionally support decorative means exposed to view on said dress.

7. A doll construction in accordance with claim 4 wherein a simulated face is provided on said head by an elasticized tubular member.

8. A doll construction in accordance with claim 7 and further comprising said arms being formed by an elongated tubular member lying in a substantially horizontal position said elongated tubular member defining ends and having a vertically extending passageway intermediate said ends for positioning about said neck portion.

9. A doll construction in accordance with claim 8 wherein said arms are attached to said costume and are removable therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 679,205 7/1901 Barrett et al 273-82 2,321,524 6/ 1943 Sc'hafer 27382 2,372,799 4/ 1945 Smith 46-l56 FOREIGN PATENTS 588,541 5/ 1947 Great Britain.

ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

